The buying of photographic equipment for picture taking or the buying of optics for birding does not include a code of ethics or an insertable moral compass for the buyer.
Equipment does not make a great photographer or binoculars make an excellent birder. I have seen motivation lead to inexcusable behavior in both.a birder who climbed a tree next to a boreal owl in order to get "a better look" and a photographer who entered private property to a "better picture" of the Great Grey Owl. In each instance there were birders and photographers that stayed on the road or a reasonable distance. In my opinion there is an increase in rudeness and irresponsibility in many people of all ages. If you take the opportunity to point out their negative behavior or attitude, many get incensed and attack back as if you are the wrong doer. I do not believe certain birds like owls should be posted or certain rarities unless they are in a much protected place like the Williamson's Sapsucker upstate. The presence of Owls seem to bring out the worst in some people. Yes, it restricts the list serve and the possibility for some to see certain birds, but isn't it our moral responsibility to protect the welfare of the birds as there are many indications of a decline in total numbers as well as potential extinction of some in certain areas of the world such as the red knot. We can not control others, but we can control what we do on behalf of the birds. Diana Teta Long Island, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
